Liquid seal trap



Sept. 8, 1953 K. M. ADAIR LIQUID SEAL TRAP Filed June 5, 1950 ZZZ IN VENTOR BY ZE' QM ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1`953 UNITED sTATEs PATENTOFFICE LIQUID lSEAL TRAP Keith M. Adair, Eugene, Oreg.

Application June 5, 1950, Serial No. 166,163

2 Claims. (Cl. 2211-85) This invention relates to liquid traps andseals, and is an improvement over the construction embodied in myco-pending application Serial No. 57,304, filed October 29, 1948, forTwo Way Seal Liquid Trap, now Patent No. 2,605,015.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved seal by employingbaffles, a sump, drain plugs, lightening holes, and an outside vent andan outside overflow tube, all of which will be described in thefollowing objects and in the description and attached drawings.

Another object of this invention is to provide vertical and horizontalbaffles in the several chambers of a container venting a tank, whichbaliies will effectively obstruct the free movement of the sealingliquid in the several chambers, thereby eliminating excessive surgingand bubbling of the seal liuid during the venting operation orotherwise.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sump into which theoverflow leveling tube from the bottom chamber of my invention extends.This sump may be attached to either the bottom wall of the seal unititself, or to the overflow leveling tube. Excessive seal fluid orexcessive tank contents, where the tank to which the seal unit isattached has been overfilled causing the contents thereof to run throughthe vent and then through the seal unit, will be discharged into thissump.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sump which willcontain a seal fluid into which fluid the overow leveling tube from thebottom chamber of the unit will extend downwardly, thereby sealing thistube from the atmosphere.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sump equipped with anoverflow means through which means excess liuid and excess tank contentsdischarged into the sump may be in turn discharged from the sump eitherinto the atmosphere, or into a tank separate and distinct from the tankbeing vented. The discharge of such fluid from the sump will in no wayaiiect the operation of the unit to which it is attached.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means through the use oflightening holes whereby the outside air would have free access to theinterior of the entire unit, with the exception of the Vacuum-pressurechamber, and the circulation of such air would eliminate any possibilityof an explosion within the unit, though it might be possible forcombustion to take place within the unit. Also such holes may be coveredwith wire screen to keep out insects, foreign particles or the like.

Another object is to provide an air vent tube and an overow levelingtube that might be used on the outside of the unit to connect the upperchamber with the lower chamber thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide adequate drains andflushing plugs for the several chambers and for the sump. And an objectof this invention is to provide a device that has .no

moving parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to maintain.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specifications, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawing:

The single figure is a vertical section of a liquid trap and sealconstructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is disclosed one form of thisinvention. A housing generally designated as is provided in the top wall|46 thereof with a nipple or intake connection |41 whereby the housing|45 may be connected to a tank, reservoir, or the like. The housing |45includes a cylindrical side wall |48 and a bottom wall |49. An innerhorizontal bottom wall |50 is disposed between the top and bottom walls|46 and |49, respectively, and divides the interior of the housing |45into upper and lower chambers generally designated as |5| and |52,respectively. The upper chamber I5! is divided into a pair of outerchambers |53 and l5!!l by means of a cylindrical partition |55 which isformed adjacent the lower portion thereof with openings |56 and isformed at the bottom thereof with lugs |51 providing spaces |51acommunicating chamber |53 with chamber |54. Lugs |58 are carried by theupper end of the partition |55, engage against the inner side of the topwall |46, and form spaces |5811 for communicating the upper portions ofchambers |53 and |55. Openings |56 in wall |55 may be in rows or seriesof rows.

A cylindrical member |60 is secured partly within the housing |45 andprojects thereabove being formed of a cylindrical side wall |6| whichextends through the top wall |46 and engages at its lower end on theinner wall |50. The side wall I 6| is formed with lugs |62 at its lowerend which engage on the upper side of the inner wall |50 and providingspaces |62a communicating chamber |54 with chamber |66.

That portion of cylindrical side wall |6| which is contained withinhousing |45 forms the inner wall of a vacuum pressure chamber, whichvacuum pressure chamber includes chambers |53 and |54; said vacuumpressure chamber communicates with inner chamber 166 through openings163e in the lower portion of cylindrical side wall |61 and through thespaces |62a, between the legs or lugs |62 in the bottom of cylindricalside wall |6|.

An inner cylindrical member |63 is disposed within the cylindricalmember |61 and is formed at its lower end with lugs |64 forming spaces|64a whereby communication will be had between the inner chamber |65disposed within the cylindrical member i63, and the outer inner chamber|66 which is formed between the cylindrical. member |53 and thecylindrical side wall |6|. Openings 163e are formed in the loweryportion of cylindrical member |61 for communicating the lower portion ofchamber |54 with chamber 166.

Openings |63a, may be in rows or series of rows.

The inner member 163 is formed with a plurality of openings i6?extending for a substantial portion of the length of member 163 and isformed at its upper end with lugs 220 forming spaces 22| communicatingthe upper ends of chambers |65 and |66. The side wall |6| has secured tothe upper end thereof a top wall |66 and an upwardly projecting nipple|69 is disposed centrally of the top wall |68. The side wall |61 isprovided adjacent the upper end thereof with openings 110, so thatatmospheric air mayA freely circulate through the upper portion ofhousing |66, and a screen or iiitering member 11| is disposed acrosseach opening |16 so as to prevent foreign matter or other material fromentering the interior of the inner chamber member 160. Chambers |53 and|55' form the vacuum pressure chamber,

A downwardly flared or conical shield i12 is secured to the upperportion of side wall |61 and engages over the openings so that water orthe like will not be blown or drained into the openings |10. A pipe |13is connected at one end to the vent nipple |60 and extends downwardlyand is connected to the side wall 168 of the housing |45 at a pointslightly below the inner wall 150. An overflow pipe 114 extends throughthe inner wall |56 being positioned centrally oi the inner wall |63 anddenes a liquid level 115 in chambers |65 and 166. The pipe |14 extendsdownwardly into the lower chamber |52 and terminates at a point closelyadjacent the bottom wall 143 of housing |45. A liquid leveling pipe |16is disposed exteriorly of the side wall 48 of housing |45 andcommunicates with chamber |51 at a point coplanar with the liquid level|11 dened by the dot and dash line in chamber 15|.

The pipe |16 is formed with a U-shaped lower end |16 having the innerside |16 thereof extending upwardly and through the bottom wall |49.Liquids overflowing from chamber 15| will flow downwardly through pipe|16 and then upwardly into the lower portion of chamber |52. An overflowor liquid level determining pipe |30 extends through bottom wall |49into chamber |52 and is secured to a sump generally designated as |81`The pipe |80 extends through the top wall |32 of sump |81 and terminatesat its lower end at a point closely adjacent the bottom wall |33 of sumpIBI;

The cylindrical side wall |164 of sump |8| is formed with a ventoroutlet openingfl which determines the liquid level 166' indicated bythe dot. and dash line 166 in sump 1,81. The upper end of pipe |80determines the liquid level in lower chamber |52 which is indicated bythe dot and dash line |81, A drain plug |88 is secured in bottom wall|46, and a second plug |65 is secured in side wall |48 in the lowerportion oi chamber |53 for flushing the chambers above wall |50. A drainplug |60 is secured in bottom wall |83, and a drain plug |91 is mountedin the bight of U-shaped member |18.

Outer chamber |53 has disposed therein a pair of spaced perforatebaffles |92 and |93 which are secured about the partition |55, andchamber |54 has disposed therein a pair of spaced perforate baiiles |64and |95 which are coplanar with baiiies |92 and |93, respectively. Anupper pair of perforate baiiies |66 and |91 are disposed within chamber154 ata point above the liquid level |11 and a iiltering medium 198 suchas steel wool or the like is disposed between the upper pair of baiiies|96 and |91. A lower perforate baffle |99 is disposed within chamber |66being fixed to outer side wall 16| and positioned closely adjacent theliquid level |11. A second perforate baie 200 is fixed to side wall |61above baie |99 at a point substantially coplanar with top wall |46. Aperforate baffle 20| is fixed within side wall 16| above baille 200, andanother perforate baille 202 is fixed within side wall |61 above baffle20|. An upper pair of perforate baiiles or plates 203 and 204 aredisposed in the upper portion of chamberl |66, and a filtering medium205 such as steel wool or the like is disposed between the two bales orplates 203 and 204.

Inner cylindrical wall |63' is formed with openings 206 at a point abovethe upper baiiie 204 so that the atmospheric air can circulate throughthe upper portion of housing |60.

The side wall 148 is formed with openings 201 at a point above theliquid level |81 and a screen 208 is secured across each opening 201. Aconical or flared member 209 is secured to the outer side wall |46extending partly across the openings 201 so as to prevent water fromflowing into the lower chamber |52 through the screened openings 201.The sump |8| is provided with openings 2|0 at points above the liquidlevel |86 which are covered by screens 2 |0a, and a conical deflector 2|is secured to the sump |81 about the openings 210. Openings 201 allowfree circulation of atmospheric air through the upper portion of lowerchamber |52. Openings 2|0 allow free circulation of atmospheric airthrough the upper portion of sump 18|.

The housing |45 has a plug 212 threaded thereinto at a point above theliquid level in chamber |52 so that the chamber |52 can be flushed orseparately iilled. A pair of perforate baies 213 and 2 i4 are disposedin spaced apart relation in lower chamber |52 below the liquid level|81, and a pair of perforate baiiles 2 I5 and 2 I 6 are disposed in thesump |B| below the liquid level |86.

The inner cylindrical wall |63 has secured therein a lower perioratebaille 2 1, an upper perforate baie 2&8, and an intermediate perforatebaiile 2 I9. The baiies in the several chambers of this liquidseal areprovided so as to disperse or iilter any bubbles which may occur in theliquid seal, and thereby prevent undue rise or fall of the sealingliquid.

Housing |60 has a filler plug 222 in the top wall 168 so that a sealingvor flushing liquid may be discharged into housings |45 and |60, and sump18| has a plug 223 threaded into the top wall |82 thereof so that aflushing liquid may be discharged into the sump.

In the use and operation of this trap, the housing |45 has the nipple|41 connected with the vent of the tank and housing |45 Will be disposedin a vertical position. Chambers |5| and |52 are filled with the desiredliquid to the levels indicated at |11 and |81, respectively, the fillingbeing accomplished by removing the ller plug 222 in housing |60. Liquidis discharged into housing |60 until the liquid flows out of opening |85in' sump |8|.

Assuming that the tank is being filled, the air pressure in the tankwill be relieved through vent |41, and at this time the level |11 ofliquid in chamber |5| will be lowered by pressure in chamber |5|, andthe liquid level in housing |60 will rise. The liquid level in housing|60 may rise to the level |15 and any further rise of liquid in housing|60 will cause the liquid to overflow into pipe and run down into lowerchamber |52. The exhaust of air from housing |60 will occur throughopenings |10 and vent |69.

Inasmuch as the size or volume of the main tank is relatively large ascompared to the trap, any rapid filling or draining of the main tankwill cause a relatively large outflow or inflow of air through the trap.The baffles |92 and |93 in outer chamber |53 prevent undue surging ofthe sealing liquid in chamber, and the baffles |94 and |95 preventsurging of the liquid in chamber |54. In like manner the baifles inhousing |60 and within perforate member |63 prevent surging of theliquid in housing |60. The air escaping from the tank will tend to causebubbling in the seal liquid and the bailes will act to break up thebubbles.

Assuming that the main tank is being emptied or predetermined quantitiesof liquid are being taken therefrom, as the liquid level in the tankdrops a partial vacuum will be created, and the liquid level |11 willrise in chambers |5| and |53 with air passing downwardly through housing|60, through openings |63a and |64a and bubbling up through baiies |92and |93. As the liquid rises in chamber |53 above level |11, the liquidwill drain downwardly through pipe |15 into lower chamber, and anyoverflow in chamber |52 will drain through pipe |80 to sump |8 Thebaiiies 2|3 and 2 I4 in chamber |52 prevent undue surging of theincoming liquid so that the liquid will not spill out through thescreened openings 201.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A liquid sealing device for attachment to the vent of a tankcomprising a housing having side, top and bottom walls, means carried bysaid top wall for connecting said housing to said vent, an innerhorizontal wall dividing said housing into upper and lower chambers, anoverilow pipe connecting said upper chamber with said lower chamber, avacuum housing disposed partly in. said upper chamber and partly abovesaid top wall, said vacuum housing communicating at its lower portionwith said upper chamber. a vent nipple extending from the upper closedend of said vacuum housing, a pipe connecting the upper portion of saidlower chamber with said nipple, a perforate cylindrical partition insaid vacuum. housing, a centrally disposed vertical pipe projectingthrough said inner wall and terminating at its upper end adjacent theupper portion of said vacuum housing, said vertical pipe terminating atits lower end in the lower portion of said. lower chamber, a perforatecylindrical partition in said vacuum housing about said vertical pipe,vertically spaced apart baies about said partition, vertically spacedapart baiiies interiorly of said partition, a, cylindrical perforatepartition in said upper chamber, a pair of perforate bailles about saidsecond named partition, a second pair of perforate bales interiorly ofsaid second partition, a third pair of perforate baiiles interiorly ofsaid second partition and disposed above said second pair of baiiies, afiltering means between said third pair of bailles, a pair of perforateupper baies in the upper portion of said vacuum housing, a, filteringmeans between said upper pair of baffles, a sump below said firsthousing, a pipe connecting said lower chamber with said sump, said sumphaving an overflow opening in the side wall thereof, spaced perforatebaffles in said sump, screened openings in the upper portion of saidfirst housing, a conical shield carried by said first housing about saidopenings, screened openings in the upper portion of said vacuum housing,a second conical shield carried by said vacuum. housing about saidlatter named openings, screened openings in the upper portion of saidsump, and a third conical shield carried by said sump about the screenedopenings in said sump.

2. A liquid sealing device for attachment to the vent of a tankcomprising a housing having a cylindrical side Wall, top and bottomwalls, means carried by said top wall for connecting said housing tosaid vent, an inner horizontal wall dividing said housing into upper andlower chambers, a vacuum housing disposed partly in said upper chamberand partly above said top wall, an overflow pipe extending from theupper portion of said vacuum housing into said lower chamber, a secondoverflow pipe communicating the upper portion of said upper chamber withsaid lower chamber, a sump below said rst-named housing, a thirdoverflow pipe connected between said lower chamber and said sump, meansventing said lower chamber and said vacuum housing, perforate baflies insaid upper chamber, perforate baffles in said vacuum housing, andperforate baffles in said sump, said baies breaking up the surge ofliquid in said first-named housing, said vacuum housing and said sump,said sump having a discharge opening.

KEITH M. ADAIR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,975,144 Gates Oct. 2, 1934 1,992,875 Mobley Feb. 26, 19352,037,731 Mobley Apr. 21, 1936 2,370,040 Jackson Feb. 20, 1945.2,384,147 Wiggins Sept. 4. 1945.

